Gathering

If Then Else

Back in business

Review Score:

(10/10)
Still this dutch groundbreaking band takes his own plan and walks their own paths. And that's only one hell of a good sign! At their last effort, How to measure a planet, they brought the influence of music other than metal and some people were not especially fond of that. My personal conclusion is that HTMAP is a terrific album and who isn't aware of the fact that The Gathering has already came up with new ideas, is a dummy. It's just a band that won't sit still, won't stagnate and doesn't fall back to their old formula with every new album. Every new album they go into another adventure and makes somekind of a cosmic journey. On this album they provided us with more down to earth and more compact songs, which stick in your minds for a long time. The Gathering is the band that is an expert in combining heavy rock with experimental popmusic. This time they put in an extra dimension with the use of classical instruments like the violin , the cello and the trombone and of course some electrical soundeffects. In some songs the heavy guitarriffs are on front like in the powerful new single "ROLLERCOASTER" and the tough, but swingy "SHOT TO PIECES". In other songs the (relaxed) popatmosphere are in front like in the songs ANALOG PARK and HERBAL MOVEMENT. The beautiful singer, Anneke van Giersbergen, also has an extraordinary effort on this album. She forfills a real glance-part and gives every song another face with her dynamic voice. I believe the song "AMITY" is so beautiful and so atmospherical (if that's a word) that it makes my flesh creep from the beauty of it. Also the warm production of it all (by the band themselves in co-operation with Zlaya Hadzich) is worth a great compliment. I think that the wisest thing that you can do, is to listen to this magnificent album! This album deserves it to be heard!

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